The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, said President Bola Tinubu wrongly copied his production subsidy model in the 30-day fuel discount he announced on Thursday.
Atiku at the inauguration of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council on Friday, demanded an apology from the president for implementing the fuel discount policy, after saying that he was ignorant of economic policy.
“You copied my production subsidy proposal, stripped away the part that makes it work, and handed Nigerians a 30-day discount,” Atiku stated.
The ADC candidate recalled that in his last State of the Nation address, on September 18, 2026, he offered to share his economic relief plan with Tinubu, but saida instead of accepting that offer in the national interest, he sold Nigerians a 30-day discount that leads nowhere.
“But I am glad you have finally acknowledged the failure of your approach,” he stated, adding that he offered a plan because Nigerians’ welfare matters more to him than who gets the credit.
Atiku described Tinubu’s petrol discount fake and deception, adding that for three and a half years, his government has driven up the cost of living.
“Now you offer a ₦50 petrol discount for 30 days and expect applause for returning a fraction of what Nigerians have lost?
“How can you make daily life unbearable for years and expect one month of token relief to wipe the record clean?” Atiku asked.
He called for reforms in the electoral system, including the right of parties and observers to verify election results, and to broadcast state and national collation centers live.
“We also demand independent audits of election technology before and after elections, an independent commission to investigate and prosecute electoral offenses, electoral institutions whose transparent processes command public confidence, and severe penalties for vote suppression, result tampering and fraud.
“These are not threats to democracy; they are safeguards for the people’s mandate,” he added.
Chairman of the Campaign Council Kashim Ibrahim-Imam, urged Nigerians to collect their Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC) to vote out the All Progressives Congress (APC) government in 2027.
“Collect your voter’s card. Go out early. Stay until the result is counted and posted.
“Guard your vote with your eyes, not with your fists, because a peaceful people in their millions cannot be rigged out of their own country,” Ibrahim-Imam advised.
He said the ADC presidential candidate has a track record as forme Chairman of the National Economic Council, and grew the nation’s economy from $58 billion to a $270 billion one.
He added that Nigeria is ready to rule the country and will rescue Nigerians from the APC misrule.